Taranto railway station
Encyclopedia
Taranto railway station is the main station
serving the city and comune
of Taranto
, in the region
of Apulia
, southern Italy
. Opened in 1868, it forms a junction
between three main lines, from Bari, Brindisi
and Reggio di Calabria, respectively. It is also a terminus of a secondary line, the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
is managed by Centostazioni
. The station's main line train services are operated by or on behalf of Trenitalia
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
Regional train services
on the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway are operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est
(FSE).
. It is a short distance to the north west of the Ponte di Porta Napoli, the bridge over the natural channel between Taranto's Mar Grande and its Mar Piccolo.
The station is linked with the city centre by a combination of the Ponte di Porta Napoli, the Isola del Borgo Antico, and the Ponte di San Francesco di Paola, or Ponte Girevole (Swing Bridge), a well known symbol of Taranto. The latter bridge spans the artificial channel between the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo.
On 28 February 1869, Taranto was also connected with Metaponto, as the Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
(Company for the Southern Railways, SFM) had initiated the construction of the Jonica railway (Taranto–Reggio di Calabria). On the same day, a connection between the station and the Port of Taranto was opened, as was the first section of the Battipaglia–Potenza–Metaponto railway that, once completed, would open the then-important rail link to Salerno
and Naples
.
In 1886, the Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo
(Mediterranean Railway Company) opened the Taranto–Brindisi railway
. When finished, it would secure the faster and safer rail connection between these two major railway stations and port locations. From that point onwards, Taranto station was shared by two railway administrations, Rete Adriatica and Rete Mediterranea.
Until the late nineteenth century, Taranto was an important railway junction for traffic in foodstuffs and timber from Calabria and Sicily to the Adriatic and the north. Its importance waned after the opening of the Southern Tyrrhenian railway, which diverted most of this traffic via Salerno and Naples.
The establishment of the Ferrovie del Sud Est
(FSE) in 1931 created an additional source of regional traffic, via Martina Franca.
The trains stopping at the station range from regional services
to InterCity
, Eurostar
and high speed trains.
Most train services are operated by Trenitalia. Services on the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway are the exception. They are operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE).
Central station
A central station usually designates the principal passenger railway station of cities which have multiple stations. The central station functions as the main transport hub for rail transport, normally with interchange with other modes of public transport...
serving the city and comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, in the region
Regions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
of Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, southern Italy
South Italy
South Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency. South Italy encompasses six of the country's 20 regions:*Abruzzo...
. Opened in 1868, it forms a junction
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
between three main lines, from Bari, Brindisi
Taranto–Brindisi railway
The Taranto - Bridisi railway is an Italian 70-kilometre long railway line, that connects Taranto with Brindisi and further to Lecce.The line was opened in three stages in 1886...
and Reggio di Calabria, respectively. It is also a terminus of a secondary line, the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is an Italian company fully owned by Ferrovie dello Stato . RFI is the owner of Italy's railway network, it sets train paths, provides signalling, provides maintenance and other services for the railway network...
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
Station building
A station building, also known as a head house, is the main building of a passenger train station. It is typically used principally to provide services to passengers.A station building is not to be confused with the station itself...
is managed by Centostazioni
Centostazioni
' is a member company of Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato group. It was created to rehabilitate, develop and manage 103 medium sized Italian railway stations.-History:...
. The station's main line train services are operated by or on behalf of Trenitalia
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
Regional train services
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
on the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway are operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est
Ferrovie del Sud Est
thumb|An Ad.42 automotrice in the Bari Sud Est station.Ferrovie del Sud Est is a secondary railway company of Apulia, southern Italy, operating in the comuni south to Lecce.-Lines:* Linea 1 Bari-Taranto* Linea 2 Martina Franca-Lecce...
(FSE).
Location
Taranto railway station is situated at Piazza della Libertà, at the end of Via Duca d'AostaDuke of Aosta
In the mid-13th century the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy; its arms were carried in the Savoyard coat-of-arms until the unification of Italy in 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exception of a French occupation, 1539—1563...
. It is a short distance to the north west of the Ponte di Porta Napoli, the bridge over the natural channel between Taranto's Mar Grande and its Mar Piccolo.
The station is linked with the city centre by a combination of the Ponte di Porta Napoli, the Isola del Borgo Antico, and the Ponte di San Francesco di Paola, or Ponte Girevole (Swing Bridge), a well known symbol of Taranto. The latter bridge spans the artificial channel between the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo.
History
The station was opened on 15 September 1868, upon the inauguration of the Gioia del Colle–Taranto section of the Bari–Taranto railway.On 28 February 1869, Taranto was also connected with Metaponto, as the Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
The Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali was an Italian railway company established in 1862. In 1885 it took the control of the so-called "Rete Adriatica"...
(Company for the Southern Railways, SFM) had initiated the construction of the Jonica railway (Taranto–Reggio di Calabria). On the same day, a connection between the station and the Port of Taranto was opened, as was the first section of the Battipaglia–Potenza–Metaponto railway that, once completed, would open the then-important rail link to Salerno
Salerno railway station
Salerno railway station serves the Italian city of Salerno and was opened in 1866.-Overview:It is located at the junction of several lines, including two major national lines, the Naples–Salerno line and the Salerno–Reggio Calabria line. It is also served by two regional lines, the...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
In 1886, the Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo
Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo
The Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo , normally known as the Rete Mediterranea , was an Italian railway company from 1885 to 1905....
(Mediterranean Railway Company) opened the Taranto–Brindisi railway
Taranto–Brindisi railway
The Taranto - Bridisi railway is an Italian 70-kilometre long railway line, that connects Taranto with Brindisi and further to Lecce.The line was opened in three stages in 1886...
. When finished, it would secure the faster and safer rail connection between these two major railway stations and port locations. From that point onwards, Taranto station was shared by two railway administrations, Rete Adriatica and Rete Mediterranea.
Until the late nineteenth century, Taranto was an important railway junction for traffic in foodstuffs and timber from Calabria and Sicily to the Adriatic and the north. Its importance waned after the opening of the Southern Tyrrhenian railway, which diverted most of this traffic via Salerno and Naples.
The establishment of the Ferrovie del Sud Est
Ferrovie del Sud Est
thumb|An Ad.42 automotrice in the Bari Sud Est station.Ferrovie del Sud Est is a secondary railway company of Apulia, southern Italy, operating in the comuni south to Lecce.-Lines:* Linea 1 Bari-Taranto* Linea 2 Martina Franca-Lecce...
(FSE) in 1931 created an additional source of regional traffic, via Martina Franca.
Features
The design of the passenger building is influenced by architectural styles that were in vogue in the mid-nineteenth century. It therefore consists of a two storey central structure with a central clock tower, and two wings extending laterally for form one elevation.The trains stopping at the station range from regional services
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
to InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
, Eurostar
Eurostar Italia
Eurostar Italia is a network of Italian high-speed inter-city trains, operated by Trenitalia . Trenitalia states that there are 130 train journeys per day....
and high speed trains.
Most train services are operated by Trenitalia. Services on the Bari–Martina Franca–Taranto railway are the exception. They are operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE).
Interchange
Local buses link the Piazza della Libertà, outside the station, with the city centre.See also
- History of rail transport in Italy
- List of railway stations in Apulia
- Rail transport in ItalyRail transport in ItalyThe Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country, with a total length of . The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network....
- Railway stations in ItalyRailway stations in ItalyRailway stations in Italy are maintained and operated by the RFI division of Ferrovie dello Stato Group. A minor part of them is operated by private and regional companies, conceded by the state.-Classification:...